While the streaming video industry is focused on Netflix’s Q2 data—which was punctuated by the addition of 5.2 million subscribers—it might be a good idea to keep a closer eye on streaming service providers in China. Today, leading Chinese internet-based streaming services are believed to have more than 500 million active users, according to China […]
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Amazon Is Building a Video Empire to Crush All Rivals
Amazon is a rather unique public company. Rather than redirect its profits (when there are profits) to shareholders, its founder and president Jeff Bezos famously prefers to re-invest its huge cash inflows into furthering the business and taking bets on the future. One of Amazon’s biggest bets is video. This year, the company is likely […]
Next-Generation TV: What’s Next?
Next-generation TV (aka ATSC 3.0) got top billing at the recently concluded U.S. National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) event and for good reason. The need for broadcasters to adopt a next-gen system—especially one that incorporates a blending of terrestrial broadcast and IP—is obvious especially since everything “television” (more and more an amorphous term) is getting […]
Roku Makes Big Advertising Leap
What do you think of when you hear the words, “hit TV series?” When it comes to linear TV, the meaning of that phrase is pretty concretely anchored in actual audience metrics. A “hit” series is one that the networks are reasonably sure many viewers are tuned into. Indeed, networks have a fairly strong handle […]
Will AI Power the Next Leap in Video Compression?
Artificial intelligence’s (AI) role in the digital content economy isn’t merely confined to better anticipating what TV series you’d like to binge watch next. It’s increasingly being brought to bear to solve a more challenging (and equally long-standing) technical problem: how to shave off bits from a video file without fatally compromising quality. While the […]
In VR Race, Broadcasters Get a Jump on the OTT Disruptors
In sprinting and swimming, how an athlete reacts to the gun—leaping off the block or propelling themselves into the pool—can often make or break a race. This early-mover advantage isn’t confined to athletics. It can propel business fortunes as well. The gun has clearly sounded in virtual reality (VR), and thousands of players, large and […]
Is UHD Blu-ray The Last Gasp of Packaged Media?
It’s not exactly a secret: UHD TV sales are on the rise. Duh. According to DTC, sales of UHD sets are due to rise 142% this year, and are projected to reach 43.6 million units and 60% of the total market by 2020. What’s puzzling is why UHD TVs are selling well, considering the dearth […]
The Dumb Pipe Era Advances
Cable and telecommunications multi-system operators (MSOs) have had one overriding objective since the dawn of the digital era: to avoid becoming a “dumb pipe” — i.e. infrastructure, a mere purveyor of another’s bits. Today, that fate appears increasingly inevitable, with a twist. MSOs have fought the dumbing down of their networks largely through the promise […]
Can 4K OTT Survive the Data Cap Era?
Comcast is no stranger to Internet-driven controversy. Last year, the company was dealing with the fallout of a customer service call gone horribly wrong. Now, it’s dealing with the leak of internal emails that vindicate a charge that has long been leveled at broadband providers—that data caps of the kind being rolled out by Comcast […]
How Big Can Netflix Get?
It’s been clear for some time that Netflix has broken out of the streaming niche to become a bona-fide TV institution. It’s easily the most recognizable brand of over-the-top service and with a subscriber base of 69.17 million users strong, it towers over its streaming rivals. Indeed, when Netflix goes down, as it did temporarily […]